Have you recently noticed small shadow-like bits of debris floating across your vision? These could be floaters. They form when the vitreous humour that fills the eye either shrinks or becomes more watery. This causes clumps of vitreous humour to form and start moving around within the eye. They usually appear as small black or translucent spots, specks, or strands that drift around your vision and dart about as you move your eyes. You'll probably notice them more in bright settings when looking at lighter backgrounds, such as a clear sky on a sunny day.
Though annoying, those floaters are normally nothing to worry about and are in fact mostly just a part of the aging process. However, it can still be a good idea to book an eye examination if you notice floaters for the first time or notice new floaters. Here are just three reasons why.
1. Floaters Can Be a Symptom of Serious Issues
Though floaters are generally nothing serious and require no treatment, they can sometimes be a symptom of eye disease or another type of damage to the eye. More specifically, floaters often result from retinal detachments. The retina is the lining at the back of your eye responsible for receiving light rays, and it can in some cases tear away from the wall of the eye. Though this is likely to be the cause of your floaters, retinal detachment can lead to a permanent loss of sight. As such, it's certainly worth getting your eyes checked after new ones form.
2. Floaters Can Be Recorded and Monitored
When your optometrist conducts an eye exam, they'll usually be able to see floaters by dilating your pupils and then conducting the examination. Even though the floaters probably don't require treatment, your optician will be able to record their current status and monitor any changes that occur over time. This can help determine any necessary course of action in the future and track the frequency at which new floaters occur.
3. Optometrists Can Provide Advice
It's one thing to know that floaters don't usually require treatment, but it's another to ignore them altogether. Floaters might not be harmful, but they can be extremely annoying, even to the point where everyday tasks such as driving your car or reading from a computer screen can become bothersome. This can take a toll on your mental health, but an optometrist can examine the position of your floaters, talk through your issues, and provide advice that should help. Anything from a change in your diet to eye exercises to reducing the brightness on your devices can help you cope with floaters.
Contact an optometrist to find out about eye examinations.